Local Government
Front Royal joins County in declaring COVID-19 Emergency
Council social distancing – it wasn’t clear if Councilmen Gillespie and Meza were present by remote hook up due to self-quarantine or to keep the suggested gathering number under 10. Royal Examiner Photos/Roger Bianchini – Royal Examiner Video/Mark Williams
Monday evening, March 23, the Front Royal Town Council met, albeit briefly, “to depart from the regular ‘Order of Business’” – don’t blink or you’ll miss the linked Royal Examiner video.
That departure was first, a unanimous vote – Gillespie and Meza by remote phone connection, though Meza late enough to initially seem to be a “no” vote – to depart from its scheduled agenda, which had included a binding second vote of approval of setting of tax rates for Fiscal Year 2021; and then approval by a 5-1 vote, Thompson dissenting, to declare “a COVID-19 Emergency Ordinance” effective immediately, and concurrently name Interim Town Manager Matt Tederick the Town’s Director of Emergency Management.
Of course, you wouldn’t have known that the interim town manager was council’s appointed pandemic emergency manager unless you perused the three-page, 28-paragraph (16 consecutive beginning with the word “Whereas”) “COVID-19 Emergency Ordinance” approved on a much briefer motion offered by Vice-Mayor Bill Sealock, seconded by Chris Holloway.
Not until paragraph 19 of the emergency ordinance is it noted that council, “hereby appoints the Town Manager, or in the absence of a town manager, the Interim Town Manager, as Director of Emergency Management for the Town, which is currently Matthew A. Tederick, Interim Town Manager.”
Above, Chief Magalis, flanked by the socially-distanced interim town manager, oversees an empty house as the meeting was about to convene; below, one citizen, former councilman, and former supervisor’s arrival took the number present, including Royal Examiner’s two-pronged media presence, from 10 to 11 – don’t tell the governor.
Having reviewed the Town Charter earlier in the day and noting that Chapter Two states that, “In a time of public danger or emergency, he (the mayor) may take command of the police, maintain order and enforce the law … subject to review by the council,” after the meeting’s adjournment we asked Mayor Gene Tewalt about Tederick’s appointment to fill that role.
“The charter does specify that the mayor does have the prerogative if there is an emergency. But this is so huge; there is so much going on that there is no way in the world I could take care of all the information. I’d have to be down here 24 x 7 to answer questions and telephone calls; whatever. Matt is here; Matt’s present during the day and during the evening hours. So, no other one is logical that’s here that could cover it other than Matt,” Tewalt observed.
“And it’s logical that if something happens to Matt, the mayor will fall in. And if something happens to the mayor, I’ll fall in,” Vice-Mayor Sealock added with a military perspective of the “next man standing” in crisis situations.
As for her dissenting vote, Letasha Thompson said it was solely based on Tederick’s lack of experience in emergency management, coupled with the workload, particularly in budget season, the interim town manager already has on his plate.
“As we got into this emergency situation, from my research as to what other municipalities were doing … I feel like it should be someone with, at least some training in emergency management, maybe not the experience – because how often do we have this kind of emergency? But at least have the education behind it. And I think Matt’s plate is beyond full at this moment, and then to have this added is just overload at this point.”
Letasha Thompson deadpans for the camera prior to meeting’s adjournment – it’s just allergies, I swear, Councilwoman …
The Emergency Director’s perspective
After the meeting, we contacted Tederick by phone and he explained his perspective on the assignment, noting that he will not be working alone, benefitting from not only the County Emergency Management team in place but a new hand he has called out of retirement, perhaps easing Thompson’s concerns to a point.
Tederick noted that with the pandemic response situation escalating at all levels across the nation, including last week’s Warren County Emergency Declaration, he had reached out to former Interim Front Royal Police Chief and Warren County Sheriff’s Office Major Bruce Hite for help.
“He’s a tremendous asset. And we’re fortunate to have money in the budget to pay for his services,” the interim town manager said of budget cuts he had made elsewhere in the existing Town budget. Tederick said Hite was hired out of the Town Administrative Office last week and would be paid out of the General Fund at a salary of $6,000 per month.
“He’s coordinating with the County Emergency Management team and the Town Police Department … Our next step is to facilitate connection with the County Emergency Services Plan because we fall under that. We had a good meeting with those involved on all levels – I feel much better today than I did yesterday,” Tederick said of pulling together help on a variety of issues he said have been keeping him up at night.
“I lay awake at night worrying that our wastewater treatment or water service won’t be able to operate up to capacity. The thing is to keep things functioning as this progresses. I’m committed to getting critical services delivered to citizens. We are cross-training Town personnel and have ID’ed backup personnel,” Tederick said of the Town looking ahead were the COVID-19 pandemic medical crisis to reach Warren County and Front Royal.
Should ‘something happen’ – County help is just a call away.
As a small-government conservative, Tederick expressed some frustration that Monday’s emergency declaration and his appointment were legally necessary to allow the Town to proceed under FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) guidelines as restrictions on public gatherings are suggested or mandated, and public access to governmental meetings may become limited. Front Royal and Warren County’s Local Emergency Declarations are not being undertaken in a vacuum.
As previously reported by Royal Examiner, according to Governor Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 53, beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, all gatherings of more than 10 people are banned statewide, certain non-essential businesses are ordered closed, and all K-12 schools are closed for the remainder of the school year. However, these prohibitions do not include gatherings that involve the provision of health care or medical services, access to essential services like food banks for low-income residents; operations of the media, law enforcement agencies, or operations of government.
“Unfortunately, I understand why – it’s a very fluid environment we’re in,” Tederick said, adding, “I was advised by legal counsel that we needed the Emergency Declaration and needed an Emergency Manager or whatever it’s called, to facilitate electronic meetings. This meeting was 99% to allow that to happen.”
What “that” is, he explained, is facilitating live remote participation by, not only council members as Gary Gillespie and Jacob Meza were hooked up by Monday night, but citizens wanting to address various agenda or other issues while watching live streaming of meetings or work sessions if public attendance becomes impossible due to the Covid-19 health crisis.
It’s keeping us apart – but maybe technology can fix that, kind of …
“I can’t believe it takes an ordinance to accomplish due to FOIA,” Tederick offered, observing, “It is frustrating, these Draconian FOIA laws in a state of emergency. I have no problem with citizens calling in remotely,” Tederick said; though some citizens on the technological downside might not have problems with the concept, as much as they might in actually utilizing the technology to achieve such remote participation.
“We’re all in uncharted territory – no one planned for this; no one anticipated this. I have direction from council to move forward in any way humanly possible,” Front Royal’s new Director of Emergency Management observed of life under the threat of the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. It is a threat declared a worldwide health pandemic by the World Health Organization.
Statistical Update
As of noon Monday, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) reported 33,404 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S., as well as 400 deaths. Of those 33,404 confirmed cases, the source of exposure remains unknown or “under investigation” in 32,416 of them.
In Virginia, including the first confirmed case – or is it two? – in the six-municipality Lord Fairfax Health District Warren County is in, as of Monday the Virginia Department of Health counted 254 cases, with six deaths and 38 hospitalizations. For some perspective on case statistics, of Virginia’s population of 8.62 million, 3,697 people have been tested for COVID-19 according to VDH.
The lack of availability of testing kits has been a sore point for health officials nationwide since COVID-19 was first identified here in mid-January. Six weeks later on February 29, the CDC reported 15 confirmed cases in the U.S., an Atlantic Magazine article recently noted.
Worldwide as of March 23, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) there were 338,307 confirmed cases and 14,602 deaths attributed to COVID-19. Of those 338,307 known cases, 232,378 were confirmed in the last 15 days.
In Europe, Italy and Spain have been particularly hard hit. Early Monday, Italy had 5,476 deaths counted out of 59,138 confirmed cases, 53,255 of those cases being counted in the past 15 days. However, a later report from Al Jazeera Monday evening had Italy’s death toll up to 6,077 and its confirmed cases at 63,928. Italy’s highest single-day death count was 793 on Saturday, March 21. Spain has counted 1,720 deaths out of 28,572 cases, with 28,142 of those cases verified in the past 15 days.
And so it goes in the fourth month since COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-2019) was identified as a new strain of Coronavirus on the move in the Hunan Province of China in December 2019, as the final year of the second decade of the 21st century approached.
See the brief meeting declaring Front Royal in a COVID-19 emergency state – don’t blink – in this Royal Examiner video:
Local Government
Supervisors Approve Three Service Contracts, Debate Liaison Committee Structure
Near the opening of its regular meeting of Tuesday, April 16, the Warren County Board of Supervisors was introduced to new officers and support staff by Sheriff Crystal Cline; board and staff reports followed prior to routine monthly business. Portions of the reports, particularly from Fork District Supervisor Vicky Cook and County Administrator Ed Daley, focused on efforts to further cut departmental or outside agency operational requests in an attempt to balance the County’s Fiscal Year-2024-25 budget without the necessity of additional tax hikes to what has already been forwarded by the board.
Sheriff Crystal Cline, at podium, introduces new deputies and staff to supervisors as she continues to finalize departmental personnel structure. Below, the supervisors continue to ponder expenditures as they attempt to balance tax-based revenue with departmental and outside agency service providers FY-25 budget requests. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini
As reported of last week’s special meeting of the board, facing a $7.5 million revenue shortfall on the initially proposed FY-25 budget, the board has targeted tax hikes adding $4 million of revenue, leaving a $3.5-million shortfall the board seems committed to eliminate through further cuts to what they consider non-essential departmental or outside agency requests.
And speaking of requests, the board’s “Unfinished Business” opened the action portion of the meeting agenda with three staff presented contract proposals. Two of them were for renewals or updates of existing contracts, and one regarding tourism promotion from a Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by the County. Those contract items were, in the order presented:
- Contract – ACOM, LLC Contract for Technical Services – staff presentation by Todd Jones, IT Director (20:50 linked video mark); on a motion by ‘Jay’ Butler, second by John Stanmeyer, approved by a 4-1 vote, Ms. Cook dissenting.
- Contract – Earthdiver, LLC Contract for Tourism Website – staff presentation by Joe Petty, County Director of Economic Development (1:05:53 video mark); on a motion by Ms. Cook, second by Richard Jamieson, approved by a 5-0 vote.
- Contract – Civicplus, LLC Renewal of Annual Term Contract – staff presentation by Todd Jones, IT Director (1:09:48 video mark); on a motion by Ms. Cook, second by Mr. Butler, approved by a 5-0 vote.
While the latter two proposals were approved after brief discussions by the board following the staff summaries, the ACOM LLC computer tech services contract drew a lengthy inquiry and questioning of contract dynamics from Fork District representative Cook (beginning 32:42 video mark). The Fork District representative seemed troubled by the condition allowing the contractor to approach the board for additional funding if its annual cap, $35,000 in current FY-2023/24, $34,000 of which has been spent to date Jones told the board, was surpassed. Her mind did not seem eased by the fact a board of supervisors majority must approve the requested additional funding, as well as approve any IT project that arose where funding over $50,000 would be required, as in IT wiring to a new building. IT Director Jones noted the contract wording had been crafted to allow other Virginia municipalities to access needed IT services from ACOM through the Warren County contract. Jones noted such open contracting was a common practice in the state, and helped achieve the best possible pricing through the multiple municipal contracting availability.
The board also heard from ACOM principal Rob Adanitsch (23:50 video mark), who noted the company engaged in proactive community projects like IT instruction for high school students through Samuels Public Library, and contributions to tech-based student scholarships.
Staff, including IT Director Todd Jones at podium and applicant, seated, listen as Supervisor Vicky Cook, top left, questions financial variables in ACOM LLC Technical Services contract renewal request. Below, ACOM principal Rob Adanitsch explained his company’s services and community involvement in bringing IT educational instruction to local students through Samuels Public Library, as well as tech-related scholarship contributions. Four out of five supervisors liked what they heard.
And as noted above, if not Cook, a four-member majority was satisfied with the contract’s dynamics, voting to approve the contract extension for another fiscal year.
On a motion by Mr. Stanmeyers, second by Mr. Butler, the board then unanimously approved a four-item Consent Agenda as presented. Three of those items were Authorizations to Advertise for Public Hearing hangar leases at the County’s Front Royal Airport (FRR), the fourth a Sole Source Award Notice precluding the necessity of issuance of an RFP on a specific pending item.
About that Liaison Committee
The meeting concluded with another somewhat lengthy exploration initiated by Supervisor Cook when Chairman Cullers asked if anyone had any “Additional New Business” to discuss (1:11:05 video mark). Cook expressed some confusion, not only on how board or council members not scheduled as official Town-County Liaison Committee members at a given meeting may offer input, but on the current structure of the liaison committee membership. The Front Royal-Warren County Liaison Committee, which generally meets quarterly, is composed on a permanent basis of the supervisors chairman and the town’s mayor, and one additional county board member and council-person generally rotated alphabetically by the first letter of their last name. The county administrator and town manager are also recognized as permanent members. Other supervisors and council members may attend Town-County Liaison Committee meetings as observers, with no authority to offer input unless recognized by the liaison meeting chairman. The meeting chairmanship is based on which municipality is hosting that quarterly meeting.
In response to Cook’s question on submitting input, Chairman Cullers recounted her experience as board chairman with the recent evolution of liaison committee meetings as the County and Town contemplated creation of a “Joint Tourism System”. She noted that while full board and council attendance had developed during the Joint Tourism discussion, the rules voted and agree upon in December were to return to the two-and-two board/council member format at liaison committee meetings moving forward. Consequently, she had communicated that non-participating board members should submit any questions or points they wanted discussed at liaison to her through the board clerk prior to the date of the next liaison meeting.
Board Chairman Cheryl Cullers, left, and Vicky Cook, right, were not on the same page on Town-County Liaison Committee structure and processes near the end of Tuesday’s meeting. County Attorney Jason Ham, below right, backed up Cullers explanation that the liaison committee has returned to the one-permanent (board chair and mayor) and one-rotating elected bodies liaison committee membership.
After County Attorney Jason Ham explained the legal rights of non-participating board or council members to attend and observe, but not speak unless recognized by the chair to do so, Cook insisted that full board and council membership was the existing structure of the liaison committee (1:17:40 video mark), to which both Ham and Cullers simultaneously disagreed. However, that did not initially deter Cook from continuing her comment based on an erroneous assumption she asserted she had written proof of.
Cook’s confusion seemed to stem from the fact she was allowed to speak at a liaison committee meeting she attended in January. Board Chairman Cullers explained to Cook that Mayor Cockrell, chairing that meeting hosted by the Town at Town Hall, recognized she had a question and had allowed her to pose it from the viewer’s gallery as a chairman may allow meeting rules to be exempted on occasion as they see fit.
And with that resolved the meeting adjourned just shy of 8:30 p.m.
Click here to watch the Board of Supervisors Meeting of April 16, 2024.
Local Government
County Planning Commission Blesses New Montessori School Proposal at Bowling Green South, and Short-Term Rentals
A near-capacity crowd of over 100 interested citizens filled the Warren County Government Center Meeting room as the County Planning Commission met for its regular meeting on April 10th. The primary interest of the crowd was a public hearing on a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application filed by John Paul the Great Montessori Academy for a private school in Rockland. Last month, the commission saw a preview presentation in anticipation of the request for a new CUP on a 20-acre portion of the site of the former Bowling Green South Golf course at 768 Bowling View Road, which ceased active operations in 2023. The last CUP issued for that property was in 1981 to Linwood Morrison for a golf course.
County Planning Commission blesses new Montessori School proposal at Bowling Green South and short-term rentals
The Academy was established in 2020, and currently operates in town, with 141 students, 20 full-time, and 18 part-time employees. In its presentation, the applicant indicated the utilization of outdoor space for recess, sports and athletics, recreation, and development of occupations relating to livestock, husbandry, farming, and gardening. The academy does not propose to build new structures but will utilize the existing space and clubhouse structure. Planning Director Matt Wendling told the commission that the proposed use is compatible with the County’s Comprehensive Plan, but in an Agriculturally-zoned area does require a CUP. It is also not contiguous with the Town of Front Royal’s water and sewer network, so it is served by its own private well and septic systems. The majority of the 20-acre plot would be kept as open space. Preservation of the rural character of the county is a key part of the Academy’s mission, according to Noel Sweeney, representing the Academy in addressing the commission.
Applicant representative Noel Sweeney addresses the County Planning Commission to detail plans for a Catholic Montessori School on part of the site of the former Bowling Green South Golf Course, which ceased operations in 2023.
The Academy plans on “utilizing certain portions of the existing golf course for two sports fields and expanding the parking area to accommodate an additional 50 cars.” The student population will not exceed 200. Traffic study calculations provided by the applicant’s consulting engineering firm indicate that traffic to and from the site should be reduced by half from what it was as an active golf course. Compared with other uses that would be permitted by right on that property, such as a wine tasting room or brewery tap room, the school will generate far fewer weekday trips, and almost none on the weekends. Mr. Sweeney reiterated that the Academy has engaged Rockland area residents in dialog regarding the planned use and will continue to do so.
When Chairman Robert Myers opened the public hearing, the overwhelming majority of speakers enthusiastically supported the plan. The very few cautionary comments from citizens did not oppose the school’s plan, but recommended County review to enforce the speed limit on Rockland Road, to protect existing access easements, and review any other traffic control measures to ensure the safety of residents in the area.
After more than 25 speakers had addressed the commission, Chairman Myers closed the public hearing, and the commissioners had the opportunity to ask questions and clarify the conditions of the CUP. Vice-Chairman Henry reflected on the potential need for future accessory structures such as barns or sheds that could be built under an Agricultural exemption, and eventually have power run as necessary for potentially different uses. The commission concluded that without creating too much burden on the applicant, there should be a review mechanism in case additional facilities need to be built that are not foreseen now. After extensive discussion, Planning Director Wendling offered to amend the motion to include a 50-foot setback on accessory structures larger than 256 square feet, and a consent item for modifications to the site plan for review. On a motion by Vice-Chairman Henry, seconded by Commissioner Kersjes, the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval to the County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors will consider the CUP application at their meeting on May 7th.
In other business, the commission considered three other CUP requests.
Joel Didriksen has requested a CUP for a Short-Term Tourist Rental at his property at 3017 Blue Mountain Road in the Blue Mountain Subdivision. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is in the Shenandoah Magisterial District. Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz told the commission that the applicants have extensive experience managing short-term rentals in Washington D.C., and the Blue Mountain POA Board of Directors has submitted an approval for the permit. The property meets the county’s setback requirement with the nearest dwelling 185 feet to the east.
Conditional Use Permit applicant Joel Didriksen addresses the commission to explain his Short-term tourist rental in the Blue Mountain subdivision. The commission went on to unanimously approve the request.
The applicant told the commission that he and his partner bought the blighted property out of foreclosure and have restored it for their own use as well as a tourist rental. With little discussion, on a motion by Vice-Chairman Henry, seconded by Commissioner Kersjes, the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.
Jennifer Wynn has submitted a request for a CUP for a Short-Term Tourist Rental at 703 Sunset Village Road. The property is zoned Residential (R-1) and located in the Junewood Estates Subdivision and the Fork Magisterial District. The property does meet the setback requirements of the county’s short-term rental ordinance, with the nearest dwelling 250 feet to the east. The Warren County Health Department review of the request indicated that there are 10 trees planted on the property’s drain-field (that also services an adjoining property by easement) that must be removed prior to final approval by the Board of Supervisors. The applicant indicated the trees would be removed. Without further discussion, on a motion by Commissioner Kersjes, seconded by Vice-Chairman Henry, the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the CUP with the added condition of the tree removal.
Jack Donohue – a request for a conditional use permit for a Contractor Storage Yard at (0) Winners Court in the Walker-Brugh Subdivision and the North River Magisterial District. The property is zoned Industrial. Zoning Administrator Lenz told the commission that the property was leased and is being used to store materials and equipment to service the landscaping business on the adjoining parcel. A previous CUP application for that property was approved in 2017, but the use as a Contractor Storage yard was never established, so the CUP expired after two years. There were no speakers at the public hearing. Planning Director Wendling told the commission that the Department heard from the adjoining property owner on the south side of the subject property requesting a visual barrier screening between the two properties, and that requirement was included in the conditions of the permit. On a motion by Commissioner Kersjes, seconded by Commissioner Kaylee Richardson, the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.
All the requests recommended for approval will now go to the County Board of Supervisors for final action.
The Consent Agenda consisted of an authorization to advertise a public hearing for six items:
Andres Barkil-Oteo – A request for a CUP for a Short-Term Tourist Rental. The property is located at 351 Donna Court. The property is zoned Residential (R-1) and located in the Shenandoah Farms-Riverview Subdivision in the Shenandoah Magisterial District.
Fred & Christine Andreae (Lynx Properties, LLC) – A request for a CUP for a Short-Term Tourist Rental at 6331 Page Valley Road. The property is zoned Agricultural (A) and located in the South River Magisterial District.
Pennoni, Inc. – Mike Artz – A request for a conditional use permit for a Building Height in Excess of 40-feet within the Highway Corridor Overlay District and Commercial Zoning District for a proposed building height of 55 feet. The Commercially (C) zoned property is located at (0) Hospitality Dr. in the Blue Ridge Shadows Subdivision and in the North River Magisterial District.
William Johnson – A request for a CUP for a Short-Term Tourist Rental at 381 Thompson Hollow Road. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and located in the Thompson Hollow Acres Subdivision in the South River Magisterial District.
Michaun Pierre – A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-8C to add definitions for Camping Unit and Tent, to modify the existing definitions of Commercial Campground and Commercial Camping, and to repeal the existing definitions of Unit Space, Vacation Camp, Day, and Vacation Camp, Overnight, to amend §180-21D to modify the listed Commercial Campground use and to repeal the listed Vacation Camp, Day/Overnight use in the Agricultural District Regulations, to amend §180-27D to modify the listed Commercial Campground use in the Commercial District Regulations, to amend §180-41 to modify the existing supplementary regulations for Commercial Campgrounds, and to amend §180-57 to repeal the existing supplementary regulations for Vacation Camp, Day or Overnight.
Warren County Planning Staff – A request to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code to amend §180-21 to make Public Schools permissible only by Conditional Use Permit in the Agricultural (A) District; to amend §180-25 to make Store/Dwelling Combination and Library permissible only by Conditional Use Permit in the Village Residential (VR) District; to amend §180-26 to add Church as a use permissible only by Conditional Use Permit in the Suburban Residential (SR) District; and to amend §180-28 to add Church as a use permitted by right in the Industrial (I) District.
The commission voted unanimously to authorize advertisement for public hearings at the next commission meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.
Click here to watch the Warren County Planning Commission Meeting of April 10, 2024.
Local Government
Conservatism of Supervisors Challenged by Urgent Need to Raise Tax Rates
Five different representatives of Warren County departments stood before the Warren County Board of Supervisors at a special meeting on Tuesday, April 9, starting at 6 p.m. in the Warren County Government Center at 220 North Commerce Avenue, to explain critical funding needs that they are facing as the County gears up for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Considering the restraints the local government is operating under with a cost that is two million dollars more than revenue, these critical funding needs come at a time when the only way to cover them, or pragmatically, a portion of them, is to raise tax rates, which is odious to a board that is characterized by conservatism. However, having heard these presentations as well as input from a public hearing, the board sought to strike a balance without sacrificing its core values.
The Warren County Board of Supervisors meets for a special meeting on the evening of April 9. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.
The amount of unfunded service needs presented to the board totals $7,531,756 which stands apart from any cost the County already has. That number is divided into separate categories based on the needs of the various departments, making this “ask”. In an arrangement of possible tax rate increases presented to this reporter by County Administrator Edwin Daley upon arriving for the meeting, amounts of potential revenue are calculated based on increases of one or more cents alongside the percentage those increases represent. In the categories of real estate, machinery and tools, and personal property, the board had a consensus that a selection of tax rate increases needed to be made at that meeting, as kicking the can down the road is no longer feasible. In real estate, which is set at $0.49/$100 assessed, a motion from Supervisor Jerome Butler selected an 8% increase of $0.04 to make $0.53, generating $2,400,000. Accompanying this figure in machinery and tools where the baseline is $2.05/$100 assessed, Butler’s motion selected a 6% increase of $0.12 to make $2.17, generating $96,000. Finally, in a personal property where the baseline is $4.00/$100 assessed, Butler’s motion selected a 7% increase of $0.28 to make $4.28, which generates $1,540,000. Add these figures up and you get roughly $4,000,000. The motion passed with only one “no” from Supervisor Vicky Cook, who felt that a selection of rates that would generate $3,000,000 would be more appropriate.
Chief James Bonzano of Warren County Fire and Rescue addresses his department’s needs with the board.
Sheriff Crystal Cline of Warren County Sheriff’s Office addresses the board concerning her department’s needs
So, the County is now facing a $4,036,000 tax revenue that will assist them greatly as they determine on every front what they can cut and what is imperative. This is the figure that results from computing the rates on the sheet provided by Daley. The money may help Chief James Bonzano in the Fire and Rescue Department to buttress the number of people they employ so that when disasters like the recent wildfires occur, their resources are not stretched to the breaking point; it may help Sheriff Crystal Cline at the Sheriff’s Office to provide her team with the vehicles they need as well as the ballistic vests they need, along with a replacement of a camera system and the execution of final payment on radio equipment; it may help Todd Jones in Information Technology as he seeks to keep his resources in fine working condition and optimally secure; it may help Alisa Scott in Finance and Purchasing as she negotiates asset replacement needs; and it may help the superintendent at Warren County Public Schools as they deal with issues ranging from covering the cost of substitutes to making sure the playgrounds are well mulched.
Director of Technology Todd Jones of Warren County Information Technology addresses the board concerning his department’s needs.
Finance Director Alisa Scott of Warren County Finance and Purchasing explains to the board a list of asset replacement needs, grouped under “other assets” in the list of categories for which the board was considering raising tax rates to cover.
Finance Director Robert Ballentine of Warren County Public Schools addresses the board concerning the school system’s needs.
Supervisor Richard Jamieson spoke at length in comments from the supervisors before the vote. “This is a surreal situation,” he said. “I was elected. I said I was a lifelong conservative. I am a conservative.” He sympathized with every citizen who spoke in the public hearing against raising taxes. “I am that person,” he said. “But I didn’t never campaign to raise taxes; I campaigned to prioritize county government working within its means to manage taxes.” He went on to say: “Lest anyone think I’m naïve about financing, I’ve been a businessman for thirty-plus years.” Although he recognizes its imperfections, he sees how much potential this county has. “The people presently running the county care about the county; they want the county to thrive. They want the county to be healthy.” But he sees the county at a place where it can no longer kick the can down the road. And, of course, the county cannot print money. He is fully aware of the ghosts that haunt this community, like the EDA scandal and the questions about how the school system uses money. But we are not helpless. He recalls his campaign slogan: “Deal responsibly with the past and plan for the future.” If leadership requires an uncomfortable decision like the one the board had to make on Tuesday evening, then that decision must be made, in Jamieson’s view. Help us comb through the budget at future meetings, he urged the audience. Perhaps Jamieson discovers Warren County as Margaret Thatcher discovered England: either regulated in all the wrong ways or not where regulations are desperately needed. The analogy certainly extends to the willingness to be hated in the line of duty.
Having voted in favor of the tax increase, the board adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Click here to watch the Board of Supervisors Meeting of April 9, 2024.
Local Government
Closure Sighted on the Horizon for Town Council’s Ongoing Discussion of Poultry in Urban Agriculture
Among several items on the Front Royal Town Council’s agenda for Monday, April 8, starting at 7 p.m. in the Front Royal Town Hall at 102 East Main Street, was a revisitation in this work session for the final time before a vote at the council’s regular meeting on May 27, of a proposed amendment to Town code regarding poultry in urban agriculture. This is an issue that has sometimes sparked contentious discussions between council members. Councilwoman Amber Morris has spoken at length, expressing strong views in favor of a more hands-off policy on regulating urban agriculture, specifically as it relates to poultry.
Town Council meets for Monday night work session. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.
As Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke explained to the council, staff has discovered contradictions in the Town Code pertaining to urban agriculture, and it stands in need of revision, regardless of whether the council reaches a consensus about the number of chickens allowed within Town limits and the square footage for coop and run space required. Councilwoman Morris acknowledges that she may not win this point. Still, she maintains that the requirements for four square feet of coop space per chicken and eight square feet of run space per chicken, requirements that are already practiced but not codified and would be codified by this amendment, are unreasonable. She would like to see chickens have the liberty to free-range in urban agriculture. However, the amendment would enforce the keeping of poultry in an enclosed, covered, secure, movable, or stationary coop, always with the requirements in terms of square feet. If the amendment passes, the number of chickens allowed for any permit holder will remain at six.
The council undertakes a virtual VDOT presentation. Adam Campbell of STARS (Strategically Targeted and Affordable Roadway Solutions) presents to the council on behalf of VDOT proposed solutions for safety concerns in the 340/522 corridor.
“When we ask this of Council,” Kopishke said of herself and her fellow staff members in an interview, “there is no corruption or malice behind the ask, no ulterior motive. It simply lets us reduce conflicts in the code so that we can do our jobs.” Aside from unifying, condensing, and removing discrepancies in the code, codifying the square footage requirements would give teeth to a practice already in place. Kopishke says that when permit holders do not abide by the uncodified requirements, inevitably, problems will arise that staff can address, like the accumulation of feces in a confined space. “Staff wants these policies standardized so that we can ensure these animals won’t be kept in anything less,” Kopishke went on. “So that when we go back for reinspection, we can ensure the welfare of the animal is being maintained.” She adds: “I can’t guarantee that when someone walks out the door with their approval, they built that coop and ran to our standards until I put eyes on it. Typically, that’s one year later unless I receive a complaint.”
Planning Director/Zoning Administrator Lauren Kopishke stands before the council twice on Monday evening to present a proposed edit and streamline of ordinance regarding spot blight abatement as well as an amendment to Town code related to urban agriculture.
Having discussed other complicating factors like whether commercial use would be allowed, which would not be under the proposed amendment, the council resolved to vote on this item at the May 27 regular meeting, as April’s regular meeting is coming soon enough that staff would not be able to advertise for the public hearing properly. Upon completing their agenda at 9:30 p.m., they went into a closed session.
Click here to watch the Front Royal Town Council Meeting of April 8, 2024.
Local Government
Labor Pangs Attend Delivery of New Congregation to Warren County Community
En route to Eastham Park, known to those who frequent it as “the dog park”, one passes at the corner of West Criser Road and Luray Avenue a plot of undeveloped land which will soon be the site of a Catholic church. This development has occupied the attention of both the Front Royal Town Council and the Warren County Board of Supervisors for months. While an application to the board for a conditional use permit for a church sailed smoothly and unanimously through the board’s regular meeting on the evening of April 2, the applicant has encountered speed bumps with the Town Council regarding a request for out-of-town water and septic service at 0 Criser Road.
Warren County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 2, at the Warren County Government Center. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.
Dedicated as St. John the Baptist and owned by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington behind the two applications respectively to town and county, this development will arguably create a mirror image of the existing sanctuary at the other end of Luray Avenue, opposite Maddox Funeral Home, which is also dedicated as St. John the Baptist. Considering how many parishioners it serves and how busy that end of Luray Avenue is on Sundays, it stands to reason that an additional chapel could help with overflow. The request for out-of-town water and septic service comes from the Diocese with the Board of Supervisors, as 0 Criser Road is in the county outside of Front Royal town limits.
Marisa Whitacre of Greenway Engineering speaks to the board on behalf of an applicant for a conditional use permit pertaining to a church at the corner of West Criser Road and Luray Avenue.
In her address to the board on Tuesday evening, Marisa Whitacre of Greenway Engineering, speaking on behalf of the applicant and having answered questions from the council the previous evening, told the supervisors that it appears the council plans to vote in favor of granting the out-of-town service request at their regular meeting on April 22. However, the applicant has made it clear that if the request is not granted, they will acquire the appropriate approvals for service via a private drain field.
The council has considered this out-of-town service application throughout multiple work sessions. In more than one instance, their discussion has focused on the need for a sidewalk on West Criser Road adjacent to the location at 0. At the most recent discussion on Monday evening, Town Manager Joe Waltz said emphatically that the real priority is securing a sidewalk on the portion of West Criser where students are currently walking in the road between Skyline Vista Drive and Route 340. Up to that point, the hypothetical sidewalk adjacent to 0 governed the council’s thought process. In what cases, they asked each other, would the council be justified in requiring the applicant to build a sidewalk, or how could they persuade the applicant to do so without a requirement? In the case of a boundary line adjustment to Town limits, the applicant would indeed be required to develop a sidewalk, as they would then be within Town limits and would therefore be subject to all the requirements facing development on a parcel located in the town. In the absence of a boundary line adjustment, persuasion becomes necessary. Could the council bargain with the applicant, resulting in a sidewalk? At one point, the applicant offered to provide a financial gift to the Town to defray a sidewalk’s expense and pay a percentile of the final cost. Still, as the size of the expense became clearer, along with logistical considerations, that gift and that assistance began to appear insufficient.
Having ruled out a boundary line adjustment and identified the need to legally add 0 Criser Road to the list of areas outside the Town that can receive service, Monday night’s work session for the council ended with the sidewalk unsecured and the appearance that, nevertheless, consensus will be had in a vote in favor of granting the out-of-town water and septic service to the applicant at the council’s April 22 meeting.
Local Government
Town Manager Forges Ahead with Vision for Front Royal
In what has been a discussion unfolding for several months, wherein the Front Royal Town Council, with execution from Town Manager Joe Waltz, has clarified a vision statement, a mission statement, and a list of goals for themselves, some of which have already been realized, the moving parts of Town government can be seen clicking towards a conclusion. On Monday, April 1 in a work session at Town Hall on 102 East Main Street which began at 7 p.m., Waltz distributed a significantly tightened version of a goals and action plan that has roots in the discussion going back to the council’s retreat in January where the contents were initially collected.
Town Council meets for Monday night work session. Royal Examiner Photo Credits: Brenden McHugh.
One objective that has already been nailed is the 2023 Annual Report which can be found on the town website. It includes a letter from Waltz in which he articulates the motive power behind the report, which includes a review of the Town’s many departments, as well as the driving force behind the goal-setting agenda. “There have been many goals set over the last several years,” he writes, “that align well with the Town’s vision and priorities. As we move into the next budget cycle, we will continue to implement the Town Council’s top priorities, and balance current revenues and expenses while maintaining acceptable reserve levels. The 2024 operating budget will create a foundation to maintain a balanced budget in future years while still maintaining the highest quality of services.”
: Director of Finance B.J. Wilson discusses issues pertaining to the Town’s budget with the council.
This focus on the budget is applicable to the third item on the goals and action plan, located under the banner of promoting community and economic well-being: “Provide FREDA [Front Royal Economic Development Authority] a revenue source or funding to function on behalf of the Town to promote economic growth and development in the community by December 31, 2024.” That potential growth is tempered by the awareness expressed in other bulleted items of the ongoing need to enforce the Town’s property maintenance code and in extreme cases to develop a strategy for addressing blighted and derelict buildings. Thus, the town finds itself in a position of conserving resources on the one hand while growing resources on the other.
Marisa Whitacre of Greenway Engineering answers the council’s questions pertaining to an out-of-town water and septic service request.
After reviewing the plan bullet point by bullet point, since it was the final item on the council’s open agenda, they went into a closed meeting at 8:30 p.m.
Click here to watch the Front Royal Town Council Meeting of April 1, 2024.
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